Spinning device.



F. WANKEL.

SPINNING DEVICE.

APPLIGATION FILED 13120.11, 1914.

WITNESSES l/VI/E/VTOR Frank Wankel A TTOR/VE Y8 THE NORRIS PE'IhKS LU rr-lmu-u 11-10.. WASHINGTON. D. r

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FRANK WANKEL, on NEW YORK, N. Y., essrenon TO AMERICAN TOY womzs, on NEW YonK, 1v. '1.

SPINNING DEVICE.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK WANKEL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Spinning Device, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to toys and its object is to provide a new and improved spinning device for spinning tops, propellers and like articles, and arranged to permit of conveniently and quickly placing the top or other article in position on the spinning device and to allow of readily actuating the latter with a View to spin the top or to cause the propeller to ascend.

In order to accomplish the desired result use is made of a handled frame in which is journaled an upright shaft, a bow mounted to swing in the said frame in a plane at an angle to the axis of the said shaft, the bow having a stretched cord winding around the said shaft to rotate the latter on. imparting a swinging motion to the bow, and retaining means on the said shaft for temporarily supporting the top, propeller or like article, and for imparting a rotary motion to the article and finally releasing the same on stopping the rotation of the shaft.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the spinning device; Fig. 2 is a perspective View of a portion of the same and showing a top in position on the lower end of the shaft; and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the spinning device and showing a propeller in position on the upper end of the shaft.

The main frame A of the spinning device is preferably formed of wire and is disposed in a vertical plane, and one end of the said frame A is provided with a handle B. The main frame A adjacent the handle B is provided with bearings C formed by twisting the wire of the main frame into coils, and in the said bearings C is journaled a vertically disposed shaft D held in place by collars E and E secured on the shaft adjacent the upper and lower bearings C. On the shaft D intermediate the bearings C winds a cord F of a bow G having its frame Fatenteol Mar. 2, 1915.

Application filed December 11, 1914. Serial No. 876,674.

formed of wire bent to provide front and rear arms G, G diverging from a coil G mounted to turn on a vertical portion A at the free end of the main frame A. By the arrangement described the bow G is free to swing in a plane at a right angle to the axis of the shaft D and when such swinging motion is given to the bow then the cord F lmparts a rotary motion to the shaft D. It is understood that the arms G, G of the frame of the bow Gare of spring wire and hold the cord F taut to cause the several windings of the cord on the shaft D to readily rotate the shaft D on imparting a swinging motion to the bow G. The front 1 arm G of the bow frame is provided with a bend G forming a handle adapted to be taken hold of by the user of the spinning device for imparting a swinging motion. to the bow.

On the shaft D adjacent the collar E is secured a laterally projecting pin H extending a distance from the lower terminal of the shaft D and adapted to be engaged b an arm I held on the top of a spinning top l and provided on; its upper surface with a central opening 1 into which extends the lower end of the shaft D on placing the top I in position of the shaft D, as plainly indicated in Fig. 2. The opening I is preferably formed by the opening of a coil attached to the top I and having its end forming the arm I, as shown in Fig. 2. In order to spin the top the bow G is swung into rearward position and then the top is engaged at its opening I with the lower end of the shaft D and the arm I is engaged with the top of the pin H. The operator now imparts a rapid forward swinging motion to the bow G so that the shaft D is rotated and with it the top I, and when the bow has reached the end of its forward movement then the shaft D comes to a standstill. Now as the top I is rotated with the shaft D the top keeps on'turning after the shaft D comes to a standstill, and consequently the arm I moves out of engagement with the pin H and the top I drops on the floor, table or other support, on which the top keeps spinning until its rotary force is spent.

The upper end of the shaft D is provided adjacent the collar E with a pin D having an upwardly bent angular terminal D The upper terminal of the shaft D projects L'Ji beyond the pin D for engagement by the central portion of a propeller J or similar device, preferably made of flat metal hav ing wings bent in opposite directions, as plainly shown in Fig. 3. The middle portion of the propeller J rests on tile pin D and one edge of the said propeller is engaged by the angular terminal D so that when the shaft D is rotated as above described the terminal D carries the propeller J around and when the shaft D comes to a standstill and the propeller keeps on rotating it disengages from the terminal D and moves upward and out of engagement with the upper end of the shaft D. The spinning propeller readily ascends into the air a considerable distance.

It is understood that the user of the spinning device can place both the top I and the propeller J in position on the shaft D and then rotate the latter with a view of drop ping the top I to the floor and causing the propeller J to ascend into the air.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A spinning device, comprising a handled frame, a shaft journaled on the said frame, a bow mounted to swing on the said frame in a plane at an angle to the axis of the said shaft, the bow having a stretched cord winding on the said shaft to rotate the latter on imparting a swinging motion to the said bow, and retaining means on the said shaft for holding an article to be actuated temporarily in position on the said shaft to rotate the article with the shaft and to release the article on the shaft coming to a standstill.

2. A spinning device, comprising a handled frame, a shaft journaled on the said frame, a bow mounted to swing on the said frame in a plane at an angle to the axis of the said shaft, the bow having a stretched cord winding on the said shaft to rotate the latter on imparting a swinging motion to the said bow, and a retaining arm extending at an angle from one end of the said shaft for engagement by the article to be rotated on turning the shaft and for releasing the article on stopping the rotation of the shaft.

3. A spinning device for tops, propellers and like articles, comprising ahandled frame provided with bearings near the handle, a shaft journaled in the said bearings and projecting beyond the same, a bow having a frame formed of diverging arms, and a cord connecting the free ends of the arms with each other, the cord being wound around the said shaft and the apex of the bow frame being mounted to swing on the free end of the said handled frame and in a plane at an angle to the said shaft, one of the arms of the bow frame being provided near its free end with a handle, and a retaining and releasing pin on the projecting end of the shaft for engagement by the article to be actuated to hold the article in place, to rotate the article on turning the shaft and to release the article on stopping the rotation of the shaft.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK lVANKEL.

Witnesses Trnso. G. HosrnR, PHILIP P. RoLLHAUs.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

